Container making machine



July 6,1954 T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 v 10 Sheets-Sheet l y 1954T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 6,1954 T. E. PlAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 6,1954 T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 T. E.PIAZZE CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE July 6, l 954 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledSept. 5, 1952 INVENTOR.

BY W July 6, 1954 Filed Sept. 5, 1952 ulilllllllll-l !I l llIIlIIlll-l-I-I-l IllIIIIlIIII III! I w T. E. PIAZZE CONTAINER MAKINGMACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 I NVENTOR.

MKW

July 6, 1954 T. E. PlAZZE CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 195210 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN V EN TOR.

T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

10 Sheets-Sheet 9 July 6, 1954 CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5,1952 y 1954 I I T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5,1952 1o Sheets-Sheet 1o Q H i 1"INVENTOR. v m 19; 7? f F BY Patented July 6, 1954 ,ATENT OFFICECONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Thomas E. Piazze, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor,by mesne assignments, to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y.,a corporation of New York Application September 5, 1952, Serial No.308,061

21 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and machines for making containers andis more particularly concerned with improvements in a method and machinefor fabrication from tubular stock successive individual containerswhich may be used for packaging a variety of merchandise.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a method and amachine for fabricating from flattened tubular stock a plurality ofsuccessive containers wherein the stock is cut into sections of thedesired length, each successive section is fed to one of a series ofclamping devices mounted on an endless conveyor by means of which thetubular sections are carried past a series of stations having mechanismsassociated therewith which close one end of each section to formtherefrom a flat tubular container.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatusfor forming bags of flexible plastic tubular material having heatsealing characteristics in which the tubular stock is divided intosuccessive bag lengths and each bag length is sealed across one end,first with a relatively narrow flat heat seal, and subsequently with abead-like end seal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of forming atubular container in which a continuous supply of tubular stock inflattened condition is cut into sections of desired length and eachsection is provided at one end with a cross seal formed by subjectingthe edges of the section first to a flat seal forming device andsubsequently to a second sealing device which forms the flat seal into abead seal.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a mechanism forforming bags in which a plurality of clamping frames or carriers areprovided on an endless conveyor, the clamping frames being adapted toreceive bag forming sections of heat sealable tubular material, and inwhich sealing stations are provided along the path of travel of theclamping frames having mechanism for forming in one end of each tubesection a transverse fiat seal and thereafter for melting apredetermined portion of the material at the end of the section,including the flat sealed portion, to form a beaded end closure seam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bag making machinewhich comprises a plurality of clamp-like carriers or forms mounted on aconveyor for movement in an endless path in combination with a flat sealforming device and a radiant heat sealing device spaced along the pathof movement of the carriers, the flat seal forming device being arrangedto engage one end of a bag forming section of flattened tubular materialclamped in each of the carriers to form therein an initial flat seal andthe radiant heat sealing device being arranged in operative relation tothe path of travel of the fiat sealed end of the section to subsequentlyform thereon a bead seal.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a method offabricating flat pouches or bags wherein heat sealable tubular materialin flattened condition is divided into successive bag forming lengths,one end of each length is provided with a flat transverse heat seal andthereafter the flat heat sealed end is subjected to radiant heatsufficient to melt back the end material a predetermined distance andform thereon a beaded end closure seam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of formingsuccessive bags or pouches from heat sealable tubular stock,particularly, polyethylene tubing, wherein successive cut lengths of thetube stock are clamped in a holder with an end portion thereof extendingbeyond the face of the holder, a flat heat seal is placed transverselyacross the end portion which terminates on a line spaced outwardly ofthe face of the holder and thereafter the extended portion of thematerial is melted back to the face of the holder to form thereon anintegral end seam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pouch fabricatingmechanism comprising a series of clamping frames mounted on an endlessconveyor which are moved by the conveyor in a curved path, a mechanismmounted adjacent the path of movement for feeding cutting and deliveringsuccessive lengths of heat sealable flattened tubular material tosuccessive clamping frames a flat heat seal forming mech-' anismmountedfor engaging the end margins of the lengths of material to formacross each length an initial fiat seal, a mechanism for fusing the endportion of each length of the material, including the initial flatsealed area, to form thereon an integral bead seal and mechanism fordelivering the completed pouches from the clamping frames.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in apouch fabricatingmachine of the type described automatic means for moving the radiantheat sealing mechanism out of seal forming position upon failure of thepower supply for the machine.

These and. other objects and advantages of the mechanism and methodconstituting the invention will be apparent from consideration of thefollowing description of the apparatus, which is shown by way ofexample, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mechanism incorporating therein the principalfeatures of the applicants invention, with portions thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, to an enlarged scale, of a portion of themachine, the View being taken on the line 2--2 as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial cross section, to an enlarged scale, taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1, which shows the web feeding and cutting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a partial cross section, to an enlarged scale, taken on theline l--4 of Fig. l which shows the fiat seal forming mechanismoperating on the top of a bag section;

Fig. 5 is a partial cross section, to an enlarged scale, taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the bead seal forming mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a partial cross section, taken on the line 6% of Fig. 1,showing the finished bag delivery mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section, taken generally on the linel''! of Fig. 1, with portions broken away;

Fig. 8 is a partial end elevation, looking in the same direction as inFig. 4;

Fig. 9' is a partial side elevation, taken gen erally on the line 9 inFig. 1, with portions broken away;

Fig. 10 is a partial section taken generally on line lEi-l0 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken on line H--ll in Fig. 2;

Figs. 12 and 13 are schematic views illustrating the steps involved inthe formation of the bag; and

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are enlarged fragmentary perspective viewsillustrating the formation of the bead seal.

The method involved in the manufacture of the bags is illustratedschematically in Figs. 12 and 13. The bags are formed from a flattenedtube of heat scalable material, such as polyethylene, or similarmaterial. The tube stock If! is fed between a pair of feed rollers lland [2 to position the leading end thereof within the operating area ofa clamping mechanism 13 comprising relatively movable arms or frameswhich close on the tube It and grip the portion l4 which is to form thebag. The clamping mechanism It is mounted for intermittent movement in agenerally circular path past a series of work stations at which variousoperations are performed on the bag. These work stations are indicatedby capital letters on Figs. 12 and 13. The initial tube feeding andcutting station is indicated at A. At station A the clamping mechanism.i3 is positioned in open position and a cutting mechanism is arranged asindicated at [5, to engage and cut the leading bag forming portion I ifrom the tubular stock Iii. A plurality of the clamping frames ormechanisms I3 are mounted on an endless carrier which operatesintermittently to move them from one work station to the next. Thelettered stations which are shown do not constitute all the stationsaround the path of the carrier, only those being shown which arenecessary to describe the operations, performed on the end of the bagsection. The tubular section 14 is severed by cutting mechanism [5 andclamped; in the frame l3 which is then moved to station B where themarginal portions it of the end of the bag forming section Hi whichextend above the clamping frame l3 are engaged in sealing relation by aflat seal forming mechanism ll. Thereafter the section It with the flatend seal it is moved through a series of cooling stations (not shown) toa radiant heat sealing mechanism H} which is indicated at stations 0 andD. The flat sealed top margins it of the section [4 are subject to theheating effect of the mechanism It as the section is moved through aseries of stations extending from C to D, which raises the temperaturesufiiciently to melt the material extending above the upper limits ofthe clamping mechanism l3 and form a final bead-like cross seal orclosure seam [9.

After the bead seal I9 is formed the bag section id is moved beyond theradiant heat sealing mechanism It through a series of stations whichpermit the seal to cool until it reaches the station F at which it isreleased from the clamping frame it and removed by a delivery mechanismwhich is indicated at 25 and the successive bags are piled in a stack ona delivery table indicated at G (Fig. 12).

fhe purpose in applying double seals to the bag section is, of course,to obtain a more eiiicient seam. in order to form satisfactorily abeaded end seam by a radiant heat sealing mechanism it is necessary thatthe web sections or edges of the material be held in a closelycontacting relationship. At the same time sufficient of the margin ofthe material must extend beyond the clamping elements to permit thematerial to be melted and form the bead-like seal. formation thereon. Inbead seal forming operations as heretofore practiced the material to besealed has merely been held in contacting relationship by clampingelements and difficulty has been encountered in producing a satisfactoryseam because the material is not in close surface contact all the wayacross the area to which the seam is applied. This may be due toirregularities in the material or to the fact that suliicient materialmust extend beyond the clamping elements in unclamped and unsupportedrelation to be melted to form a bead of substantial cross section. Thisdifficulty is overcome with the present invention by first forming aflat seal or seam area It of a conventional nature at the marginal edgesof the material (Fig. 14) and subsequently forming the final bead seal19. The fiat seal it extends from the marginal edge of the materialinwardly a predetermined distance and holds the material in closesurface contact. The seal area I6 does not extend to the clampingmechanism l3 but terminates short of the upper faces of the clampingframe members. When the extended and sealed margins of the sections aremoved or advanced beneath the radiant heating mechanism 18 the extendedmaterial is melted by the heat and due to the nature of the materialinvolved forms a bead along the end edge of the tube section. Thematerial is subject to the radiant heating mechanism [8 for a sufficientlength of time to cause it to melt back to the upper or outer faces ofthe clamping frame members. The formation of the preliminary flat sealor seam iii and the arrangement of the tubular section in the clampingmechanism 13 results in the formation of a beaded end seal or scam I?)which does not have any weak spots or areas in it due to the fact thatthe material melts and coalesces as though it were a single thickness,the two thicknesses of the material being held in close surface relationby the initial flat seal l6. 7

Referring to Figs. 1-11 of the drawings there is illustrated a machinewhich incorporates therein mechanism for forming a bag or pouchfollowing the steps of the method heretofore described. The machinecomprises a horizontally disposed conveyor 2! (Fig. l) which is mountedfor movement in an elliptical path and which carries a plurality ofspaced clamping mechanisms or frames IS in which the bag lengths I4 areheld during the end sealing operations. The mechanisms for performingthe operations on the top end of the successive bag lengths are arrangedaround the path of the conveyor 2|. The feeding and cutting mechanism 22for the tube stock I0, which includes feed rollers H, l2 and cuttingknives I5 is arranged at the forward side of the machine as shown inFig. l. The flat seal forming mechanism 1'! is arranged immediatelyadjacent to the feeding and cutting mechanism 22. The radiant heatingmechanism I8 is arranged at the opposite side of the machine and thefinished bag delivery mechanism is ar ranged at the forward side of themachine adjacent to the tube feeding and cutting mechanism 22.

The endless conveyor 2| and the associated stock feeding and cutting andseal forming mechanisms arranged around it are all mounted on a mainsupporting frame comprising parallel oppositely disposed upright sideframe plates 23 and 24 (Figs. 6 to 9). For convenience in describing themachine the side of the machine on which the feeding and cuttingmechanism is located' will be designated the front of the machine andthe frame plates 23 and 24 will be referred to as front and rear frameplates, respectively. Longitudinally extending upright frame plates orrails 25 and 25 are arranged on the top edges of the side frame plates23 and. 24, respectively, on which the various operating mechanisms aremounted. The frame side rails 25 and 26 are connected by cross bars 2i,23 and 29 (Fig. '7) on which the conveyor 2i is mounted.

The endless conveyor mechanism 2! comprises a pair of horizontallyarranged upper and lower chains 30 and 31 (Fig. 7) which are carriedon'a pair of upper and lower driven sprockets 32 and 33 at one end ofthe machine and on a pair of upper and lower idler sprockets 34 and 35at the other end of the machine. The sprockets 32 and 33 are secured invertically spaced relation on a vertically extending driven shaft 35while the sprockets 34 and 35 are secured in vertically spaced relationon a vertically extending idler shaft 31 which is journaled betweenvertically spaced upper and lower frame plates 38 and 35. The frameplates 38 and 39 extend longitudinally in approximately the center ofthe machine. Vertically extending posts connect the plates 38 and 39 inspaced relation. The lower plate 39 is supported by vertically extendingposts 41 from a longitudinally extending support plate 42 which is inturn mounted on short cross support blocks 33 resting on the cross framebars 21, 28 and 29 which connect the side frame rails 25 and 25. Thedriven shaft 35 is journaled in the upper and lower plates 38 and 3S andextends at the lower end below the base plate 42. A beveled gear M issecured on its bottom end and engages in driving relation with a beveledgear on a driven cross shaft 45 which is journaled in the side frameplates 23 and 24. The

cross shaft 46 is provided with a driving gear 41 (Figs. 6, 7 and 9)which is connected in driving relation with a gear 48 on anintermittently driven cross shaft 49. The cross shaft 49 extends throughthe frame plate 24 and carries the driven element 50 of a Genevamovement. The driving element 5| of the Geneva mechanism is mounted on across shaft 52 which is also'journaled in the side frame plates 23 and24. The cross shaft 52 is driven from a secondary drive shaft 53 throughconnecting gears 54 and 55 located inside the rear side frame plate 24.The secondary drive shaft 53 is connected in driving relation with themain drive shaft 56 by gear 51 and pinion 58 located inside the frontside frame plate 23. The main drive shaft is connected in drivingrelation with a power shaft 59 by gear 55 and pinion 6| (Fig. 9). Thepower shaft 59 carries a pulley 62 which is connected by a drive belt 53with the pulley 64 on motor 55, the latter being supported in anyconvenient manner on the main supporting frame of the machine.

The conveyor chains 55 and 3! support in spaced relation the clampingmechanisms [3. Each of theclamping mechanisms is carried on the chainsby a pair of pivot support pins'65 which extend between links of thechains 30 and 3| which carry on their upper and lower ends guide rollers61 and 68. Longitudinally extending upper guide channels 69, H1 areprovided for the guide rollers 61 which are supported on the 'end crossplates H and 72 while lower guide channels I3, 74 for the guide rollers58 are supported on end cross plates l5, 15. The cross plates H, 12 andi5, 16 are secured to the longitudinal conveyor frame plates 38 and 39.The guide channels 69, Ill and 13, 14 prevent the chains from moving outof alignment while they carry the clamping mechanisms l3 along the frontand rear sides of the machine. This control is unnecessary at the endswhere the chains engage with the supporting sprockets. The pivot supportmembers 66 are connected by a bracket ll with a vertically extendingbase plate l8 which forms the base or fixed portion of the clampingmechanism l3. Each clamping mechanism l3 comprises the base plate orfixed jaw forming member 18 and a movable frame member 79 whichconstitutes the movable jaw. The frame member '59 is generally U-shaped(Figs. 2 and d) with the ends of the legs secured to a pivot shaft whichis mounted in bearing ears 8: on the lower end of the base plate 78. Thepivot shaft 85 carries at its center an arm 82 which extends through asuitable aperture in the base plate 78 and is provided with a cam roller33 on its inner end. The jaw forming frame members '58 and 72 are urgedtoward each other by torsion springs 85 on the pivot shaft 85. The jawforming members 13 and F9 are provided at their upper ends withcoopcrating gripper bar members 35, 85, respectively.

The torsion springs 8 normally urge the cam roller 83 downwardly and thegripper bar or jaw members 85, 86 toward each other and into grippingrelation with the bag forming tube section id. Suitable cam mechanismsare provided for engaging the roller 33 to open the jaw members 85, 85,which will be described subsequently.

The tube stock is fed and out by the mechanism 22 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3)which comprises transversely extending upright spaced side supportplates 53, 9! secured at the top of upright bracket plates 92, 33 whichare in turn secured to a longitudinally extending front side plate 94projecting above the front frame members 23 and 25. A supply of the tubestock I is supported on a reel (not shown) attached to the front framein any conventional manner. The stock I0 is fed over a guide roller 95journaled between the sup port plates 99, 9i to a pair of cooperatingupper and lower feed rollers 93, 9? which are mounted on shafts 98, 99.The lower shaft 99 is journaled between the support plates 90, 9| andthe upper shaft 99 is journaled in spring pressed end bearings I00 inbearing brackets IilI extending above the support plates 95, 9i. Thefeed roller shafts 93, 99 are extended at one end beyond the outer faceof the side support plate BI and gears !92 and I03 are secured thereonwhich connect the shafts in driving relation. The lower feed rollershaft 99 connects at its end with a one way clutch I04 which is mountedbetween the side support plate SI and a laterally extending U-shapedbracket I95, the latter having its legs secured to the outer face of theplate 9 I. The clutch mechanism I94 includes a driving pinion I95 inoperative engagement with a gear segment I91. The gear segment IN issecured on a shaft I98 which is journaled in the outer wall of thebracket member I05 and oscillated by means of an arm 09 secured at theone end to the outer end of shaft I08 and pivotally connected at theother end to the upper end of a vertically extending link or pitman I I0which carries at its lower end a pivot member III (Fig. 2) adjustablysecured in a radial slot H2 in the eccentric arm H3 which is secured toa short stub shaft I I4 journaled in the bearing H5 which bearing ismounted on the front face of vertical support plate 94. The stub shaft II4 carries at its other end a gear I it which is in operative engagementwith a gear if? on a front cam shaft II8. The front cam shaft I58extends lengthwise of the machine along the upper edge of the frontframe plate 23 and is supported in longitudinally spaced bearings H9 andI20 mounted thereon. The cam shaft H9 is driven in a manner which willbe described subsequently. The lower feed roller shaft 99 is extended atthe other end outside the support plate 90 and a sprocket I2I is mountedthereon which is connected by a chain I22 with a sprocket I23 on theforward shaft I24 journaled between the plates 90, 9| and supporting aguide roller I25. The shaft I24 is extended outside plate 9! and adriving gear I25 is mounted thereon which is connected in drivingrelation with an idler pinion I2! on a stub shaft I28 journaled in theside plate iii. The idler gear I2? is connected in driving relation witha gear I29 on a cross shaft I30 which is journaled between the sideplates 90, BI and which carries one of a pair of tension feed rollers II, i2. The other feed roller I2 is mounted for swinging movement on across shaft I3 I which is journaled in the lower ends of a pair ofupright support arms I32. The support arms I32 are mounted intermediatetheir ends on a cross bar I33 which is journaled between the frameplates 90, 9|. The roller shaft I3I extends at the one end through anaperture I34 in the plate 9I and carries a gear-I35 which meshes withthe driving gear I29 on the roller shaft I30 when the feed rollers IIand I2 are in operative relation. The roller I2 is urged toward theroller II by a tension spring I36 which is connected at one end to heupper end of one of the roller supporting arms I32 and at the other endto a post I37 on the frame member 9| A stock guide plate I38 ispivotally supported on the cross bar I33 forwardly of the guide rollerI25 and above the roller I2 to facilitate threading the stock materialI0 between the feed rollers I I and I2. The amount or length of stock I0which is fed may be varied by adjusting the pivot I I I in the slot I I2to vary the length of the path of movement of the segment IN. Thetension feed rolls II, I2 are rotated at a faster speed than the stockfeed rolls 96 and 9! and keep any slack from developing in the materialbeing fed. The side plates 90, 9| are provided on their oppositelydisposed inner faces with aligned slots or guideway forming recesses I39in which there is mounted a sliding cross plate I40. The slide plate I40provided with a downwardly extending ear I4I which is pivotallyconnected by link I42 to the upper end of a vertically extendingoperating arm I43. The arm I43 is mounted at its other end on a crossshaft I44 (Figs. 2, 3 and 11) journaled between the vertical s pportplates 92 and 93. The shaft I44 has a downwardly extending operating armI45 on the lower end of which there is mounted a cam roller I46 held inengagement with a cam I4'I mounted on the front cam shaft II8 by atension spring I48 connected at one end to the arm I43 and at the otherend to a cross bar between the plates 90, 9|. At its forward end thefeed plate I49 is provided with an upper guide plate I49 which isadapted to engage the stock material I0 beneath the feed rollers II andI2 as the plate I49 is moved forwardly by operation of the cam I41.

The feed plate I40 also carries at its forward end a lower plate I50which forms at its forward edge one of the knives of the cuttingmechanism E5. The other knife I5I is carried on the end of a slidingcross plate member I52 which is mounted in oppositely disposed guidewayforming slots or recesses I53 in the forward ends of the side plates 90and 9|. The slide plate I52 is pro vided with an upstanding ear I54 towhich there is pivotally connected one end of a link I55, the other endof the link being pivotally connected to the lower end of a dependingarm I55 which is mounted on a cross shaft I51 journaled between theplates 90 and. SI. At one end the shaft 35'! is provided with an arm I58which is pivotally connected at I59 to a horizontally extending linkI69. The other end of link I60 is pivotally connected at I6I to anupwardly extending arm :62 of a bell crank which is pivotally mounted atI63 on the vertical support plate 93. The other arm I54 of the bellcrank carries a cam roller I65 at its lower end engageable with anoperating cam I66 mounted on the front cam shaft H3. The cam roller I65is held in engagement with cam I56 by tension spring I62 secured at oneend to arm I62 and at the other end to the frame plate 9 I.

As the feed mechanism 22 is operated to feed a length of the stock Itdownwardly between the feed rollers II, I2 a clamping frame I3 is movedinto position beneath the rollers ii and 52 by the conveyor 2 I. The jawmembers and 35 are moved apart, into open position, by the cam roller 83on the actuating arm 82 engaging with a longitudinally extending camplate I57 (Figs. 3 and 10) which is mounted on a longitudinallyextending horizontal supporting plate @555 extending between the crossframe bars 25 and 29. The cam plate I61 terminates short of the feedingstation so that at the end of the movement of the conveyor which bringsthe clamping frame I3 into position for receiving the cut section id ofthe stock I0 the cam roller 83 passes from plate cam I6! to a supportingtrip arm E59. The trip arm I69 extends through suitable apertures orslots in the side plates '94 and 25 and is secured to a rock shaft I'I0which is journaled between the frame plates 92 and 93. The rock shaftI79 has a depending arm I'II with a cam roller I72 on the end thereof inengagement with a cam I73 mounted on the front cam shaft H6. The triparm I69 holds the jaws 96 and 96 of the clamping frame I 3 in openposition until the stock has been fed a sufiicient distance to provide abag length It and the cutting mechanism I is actuated. to cut off thebag length. Thereupon the arm I69 is rocked by cam I79 to drop theroller 99 a sufiicient distance to allow the clamping jaws 85 and 96 toclose under the action of the torsion springs 84 on the clampingmechanism IS. The feeding mechanism 22 for the stock I9 and the cuttingmechanism I5 are, of course, operated intermittently in timed relationto the movement of the conveyor 2|.

From the tube stock feeding and cutting station each successive clampingframe I 9 is moved by the conveyor 2I to the next adjacent station wherethe flat seam I6 is applied to the portion of the cut tube section whichextends above the upper faces of the clamping jaws 85 and 86 by the flatseal forming mechanism I7. The fiat seal forming mechanism I7 is mountedon an upwardly extending plate bracket I74 (Figs. 2 and 4) which issecured to the front frame member 23. It comprises a pair of cooperatingsealing irons I75 and I76 which are mounted for movement toward and fromeach other above the clamping frame I3. The clamping and sealing ironsI75 and I76 are mounted on the ends of pairs of spaced depending arms orsupports I77 and I78. The arms of each pair of the supports I77 and I78are pivotally mounted at I79 and I89 on spaced support plates IBI, I92which extend forwardly from and are secured at the upper end of thebracket plate I 7 and which are held in parallel relation by suitableconnecting tie rods. Each of the support plates I6I and i82 is providedin its top edge with a pair of spaced upwardly opening notches or slotsI89 and I89 to permit movement of tie rods I85 and I86 which connect theupper ends of the support arms I77 and I79 and extend parallel to thesealing irons I75 and I 76. Tension springs I87 connect the upperextremities of the support arms I'll, 579 which are pivoted on theoutside faces of the plates NH and I82, respectively, and normally urgethe sealing irons I75 and I76 out of sealing engagement. The tie rods orcross shafts 86 and I86 each carry a cam roller I88 located between theplates {9| and I62 which engages with a cam I89 on a rock shaft I99journaled between the plates I6I and I82. The one end of rock shaft I99is extended beyond support plate WI and provided with an operating armI9I which is pivotally connected at I92 with a link I96 extendingforwardly beyond the support bracket I74 and pivotally connected to theupper end of a vertical arm I94. The arm I99 is mounted on a short shaftI95 journaled in brackets I96 extending outwardly of bracket plate I79.Shaft I565 is provided with a cam arm I97 which carries at its outer enda cam roller I98 in engagement with cam I99 mounted on the front camshaft H8. The cam I99 as it is rotated on the cam shaft II8 rocks theshaft I99 through the op erating linkage described and causes cam I89 tomove the supporting arms I77 and I78 to bring the sealing irons I76 andI76 toward each other. The operation of cam I99 is timed so as to engagethe top margins of the bag section I4 with the sealing irons I75 and I76a sufficient length of time to form therein the flat seal or sea-m I6.

19 Thereafter the sealing irons I75 and IE6 are moved apart to free thebag section 59 and the clamping mechanism I3 is moved away from thesealing station by the conveyor 25. The clamping mechanism I3 thereaftermoves through or around the end of the machine to the radiant heatsealing mechanism i8 which is located on the opposite, or back side, ofthe machine frame.

The radiant heat sealing mechanism l9 (Figs. 1 and 5) is mounted on apair of arms 299 and 29I which extend horizontally across the top of themachine and which are supported on a cross shaft 292 mounted between thefeeding mechanism support plates 99 and 95. An elongate support member293 is arranged at the outer end of the arms 299 and 29I and is providedon its bottom face with a resistance coil, forming a heating element294, which is seated in a suitable recess extending the length of thesupport 293. The support member 263 is secured to the ends of arms 299,29I by a bracket plate 295 having inwardly extending arms 295' adjacentthe opposite ends which are rovided with adjusting stop screws 296 whichengage the top surface of a part of the supporting frame of the conveyor2! to limit the downward positioning of the heating mechanism.

The heating mechanism I8 is adapted to be manually lowered intooperative position and to be lifted out of operative position by acounterweighted shaft arrangement which comprises the cross shaft 297(Figs. 1 and 5) journaled in upstanding end support plates 298 and 299projecting above a top cross frame plate 2 I 9. The shaft 297 isprovided at one end With a rocking arm 2II which is pivotally connectedto the top end of a link 2I2 the other end of which is pivotallyconnected to a rod 2I3 extending between the arms 299 and 29I supportingthe sealing mechanism I9. The shaft 297 carries adjacent its center anoutwardly extending counter-weight support arm 2 IA on the outer end ofwhich there is secured a suitable counter-weight 2I5. With thisarrangement the counter-weight 2I5 tends to rock the shaft 297 to liftthe sealingmechanism I9 out of sealing position. The frame support plate2I9 is secured at one end to the top bar 2I6 of a top cross supportingframe 2! I which also supports portions of the finished bag deliverymechanism. The plate 2I9 is secured to the bar 2I6 by an upstanding post2I9. The shaft 297 is provided with a hand Wheel 2I9 for manual rotationand is held against rotation by means of a depending latching finger 229having a hooked end 22I which is adapted to engage an abutment 222 on alatching bar 223 which is pivotally connected at 229 to the cross framebar 2 I 6 and which is slidably and pivotally connected at its other endby means of a dependinglink 225 with the depending arm 229 of a solenoid227. The link is bifurcated at its lower end and receives a slidin pivotpin 228 on the latch bar 223. The pivot 228 is connected to one end of acoil spring 229, the other end of the spring 229 being connected to thelink 225. The link 225 is pivoted at 239 to the depending arm 229 ofsolenoid 227 and the latter is controlled by a switch 23I located abovethe shaft 297. The solenoid 227 is supported on an upstanding angularbracket 292. The shaft 297 carries a cam 263 which is adapted to operatethe switch 23I upon rotation of the shaft 297 to position the heatingmember I8 in operative relation relative to the top of the clampingmechanism I3. In this position the latching arm 229 is engaged with thelatch bar 223 and the solenoid arm 226 is retracted. Upon failure of thepower supplied to the solenoid 221 the arm 226 will drop and engagementof the latch arm 2H8 with the latch bar 223 will be broken. Thecounter-weight 255 then causes rotation or rocking of the shaft 20? tolift the sealing mechanism l8 out of operative position.

After the formation of the bead seal closure [9 by movement of the bagsection I4 beneath the radiant heat sealing mechanism it the clampingframe I3 is carried around the end of the machine by the conveyor 2|with sufficient time elapsing for the heat seal [9 to cool before thecompleted bag is removed from the clampingframe l3. As the clampingframe 3 arrives at the discharge or delivery station the cam roller 83on the clampin frame [3 moves into position over a trip mechanism whichcomprises an inwardly extending trip arm 249. The trip arm 240 ismounted on a relatively short rock shaft 2 2! journaled in bearingsupport 242 secured on the front side frame plate 25. The rock shaft 2Mcarries an actuating arm 243 on the end of which there is a cam roller2% engageable with a cam 245 on the front cam shaft H8. The cam 245operates the arm 249 in timed relation to the movement of the clampingframe E3 to open. the clamping jaws 85 and 86 at the proper time forrelease of the completed bag 54.

The delivery mechanism comprises a pair of suction cups 248 mounted on ablock 24? depending from a carrier member 2&8 which is slidable on apair of guide rods 24%) extending between the upright members 250 and25! of the top frame 211. The carrier 248 is reciprocated on the guiderods 249 by means of a long link member 252 which is pivotally connectedat one end 253 to the carrier 248 and at the other end 255 to the top ofa crank arm 255 which is projected upwardly from a longitudinallyextending rock shaft 256 at the rear side of the machine. An air hose25'! connects the suction cups 246 through the carrier bracket 248 andthe supporting block 2, with a suitable vacuum device. The carriage 2&8moves across the bars 249 and carries the bag i above a delivery table253. The bag moves beneath a delivery or hold down arm 259 above thetable 258 which is pivoted at 2653 to the frame member 25! and which hasconnected therewith an operating arm 26! pivotally connected at 262 tothe end of an upstanding link 253 which is pivotally connected at itsother end 254 to a cam arm 265 carrying the cam roller 2% and pivotallymounted on the rock shaft 2 The cam roller 266 engages an operatin cam2t? mounted on the front cam shaft H8. The vacuum mechanism iscontrolled by a suitable valve operated by cam 253 which is mounted onan auxiliary shaft 259, the latter being connected by a sprocket andchain drive 216 with the drive shaft H3. The shaft 269 is journalled inbearings on a braciret 21! supported on the front frame plate 23.

The rock shaft 256 which extends longitudinally of the back plate 24 ofthe main frame of the machine is supported on bearing brackets 212, 273(Fig. 9). The shaft 256 is extended at the one end and provided with anarm 214 (Fig. 3) which is pivotally connected at its outer end 215 to anupstanding link 276. The link 2'16 is pivotally connected at its lowerend at 21'! to an eccentric 218 which is mounted on the end of a drivenshaft H9. The shaft 279 is supported in bearing-s 280, 28! on the backplate 24 of the 12 main frame. A bevel gear 282 on the inner end thereofis connected with a bevel gear 283 on a cross shaft 284. The cross shaft284 is connected adjacent the opposite end in driving relation with themain drive shaft 56 by gear 285 and pinion 285 on the shaft 56.

The shaft 219 carries a sprocket 287 which is connected by a drive chain288 with a sprocket 289 on front cam shaft 1 l8.

While the specific mechanism illustrated in the drawings is preferredfor fabricating bags in accordance with the method heretofore describedit will be understood that modifications are contemplated within thespirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material which material is characterized by itsability to melt and form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjectedto radiant heat, said machine comprising an endless conveyor, aplurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation along saidconveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive cutsections of said flattened tubular material to said frames, flat heatsealing means spaced along said conveyor adjacent said web feeding andcutting means for successively engaging portions of the cut sections ofmaterial projecting from said frames and forming a relatively narrowfiat heat sealed seam, and radiant heating means supported along saidconveyor in spaced relation to said heat sealing means in the directionof advance of said conveyor, said radiant heating means being positionedlaterally of the path of movement of the sections of tubular material toform the fiat heat sealed seams into bead seals.

2. In a machine for sealing the ends of cut sections of flattenedtubular bag forming material, endless conveyor means having bag holdingclamp members spaced therealong, means for delivering cut sections ofsaid tubular material to said clamp members with the end margins of eachsection extending a predetermined distance outwardly of said clampmembers, seal forming means for engaging said extending end margins toform a fiat marginal seal therein and radiant heating means spaced fromsaid flat seal forming means and operative on said extending end marginsto melt the same and form thereon a bead seal.

3. In a machine for sealing the ends of cut sections of flattenedtubular bag forming material, endless conveyor means having cooperatinggripper assemblies spaced therealong for engaging one end of each ofsaid cut sections, means for delivering the cut sections of said tubularmaterial to said gripper assemblies with a predetermined portion of theend margins of each section extending a predetermined distance outwardlyof said gripper assemblies, flat seal form ing means for engagingportions of said extending end margins to form a flat marginal sealtherein, and heating means spaced along said conveyor means from saidflat seal forming means and operative on said end margins to melt theextending portions and form thereon a bead seal.

4. In a machine for sealing the ends of cut sections of flattenedtubular bag forming material, an endless conveyor having frame membersspaced therealong, said frame members comprising cooperating relativelymovable jaw members, means for delivering cut sections of said tubularmaterial to said jaw members with portions of the end margins of eachsection extending a predetermined distance outwardly of said jawmembers, flat heat seal forming means for engaging said extending endmargins to form a flat marginal seal therein and radiant heating meansspaced along said conveyor from said flat seal forming means andoperative on said extending end margins to melt the portions beyond saidjaw members and form a bead seal.

5. In a bag forming machine an endless conveyor, carrying framesarranged along said conveyor and extending laterally of the paththereof, said carrying frames comprising pivotally connected clampmembers having cooperating gripper jaws for engaging in clampingrelation adjacent one end of a flattened tubular bag forming section,means spaced along said conveyor for pivoting one of said clamp membersrelative to the other of said clamp members to receive the bag formingsection as said carrying frames are moved along the path of saidconveyor, and means for delivering successive bag forming sections tosaid gripper jaws as said carrying frames are moved adjacent said lastmentioned means. i

6. In a bag forming machine a horizontally mounted endless conveyor, aseries of carrying frames arranged in spaced relation along theperiphery of said conveyor, said carrying frames comprising verticallypositioned clamp members having cooperating jaws at the upper endsthereof for engaging in clamping relation adjacent the upper end of aflattened tubular bag forming section, said clamp members beingpivotally connected at the lower ends thereof and an arm extendinghorizontally from one of said clamp members operable to pivot the samerelative to the other of said clamp members, and cam members arranged atpredetermined points around the path of movement of said conveyor toengage said arm whereby to open and close said jaws.

7. In a bag forming machine a horizontal endless chain conveyor,generally vertical carrying frames arranged in spaced relation alongsaid conveyor, said carrying frames comprising generally rectangularclamp members having cooperating jaws at the upper ends for engaging inclamping relation adjacent the upper end of a flattened tubular bagforming section and said clamp members having pivotal connections at thelower ends, laterally extending means on one I of said clamp membersadapted to pivot the same relative to the other of said clamp members,and movable control members at predetermined points around the path ofmovement of said conveyor to engage said last mentioned means in timedrelation to the movement of the conveyor and open and close said clampmembers.

8. In a bag forming machine a horizontal endless conveyor, a pluralityof vertical carrying frames arranged in spaced relation along saidconveyor, said carrying frames comprising pivotally connected clampmembers having cooper- Iii tion therealong, means for delivering outsec; tions of said tubular material to said clamp members, means to movethe respective clamp members to engage said bag sections with the endmargins of each section extending a predetermined distance outwardly ofsaid clamp members, seal forming means adjacent said delivering meanshaving movable sealing bars for engaging said extending end margins toform a fiat marginal seal therein and radiant heating means adjacentsaid fiat seal forming means movable into close proximity to saidextending end margins to melt the same and form therein a bead seal.

10. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material Which is characterized by its ability to meltand form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat,a horizontal endless conveyor, a plurality of carrier frames mounted independing spaced relation along said conveyor, web feeding and cuttingmeans arranged along said conveyor to feed successive cut sections ofsaid flattened tubular material vertically to said frames, heat sealingmeans spaced along said conveyor adjacent said web feeding and cuttingmeans for successively engaging trailing end portions of the cutsections of material and for forming therein a relatively narrow flatheat sealed seam, and radiant heating means movably supported along saidconveyor, said radiant heating means being spaced from said heat sealingmeans in the direction of advancin movement of said conveyor and beingadjustable relative to the path of movement of the flat sealed portionsof the tubular material to form the same into bead seams.

11. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to meltand form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat,an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontalplane, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation alongsaid conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successivecut sections of said flattened tubular material to said gripper frames,reciprocable heat sealing jaws adjacent said web feeding and cuttingmeans for successively engaging portions of the cut sections of materialprojecting from said frames and for forming a relatively narrow flatheat sealed seam therein, radiant heating means supported above saidconveyor, said radiant heating means being movable into close proximityto the path of movement of said conveyor and being operative on the flatsealed ends of said sections of tubular material to form the flat heatsealed seams into bead seals, and means to deliver the sealed sectionsfrom said gripper frames. 7

12. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to meltand form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat,a power operated intermittent horizontal endless conveyor, a pluralityof pivotally connected jaw forming gripper frames mounted in spacedrelation along said conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged tofeed successive cut sections of said flattened tubular material to saidgripper frames, fiat heat sealing jaws adjacent said web feeding andcutting means for successively engaging portions of the cut sections ofmaterial projecting from said frames and for forming a relatively nar- Irow fiat heat sealed seam therein, a radiant heating device pivotallysupported above said conveyor, said radiant heating device beingswingable into close proximity to the path of said conveyor to positionthe heating element for melting the flat heat sealed seams and formingtherefrom bead seals, and means controlling the positioning of saidradiant heating device to automatically swing the same to an inoperativeposition upon failure of the power means for the endless conveyor.

13. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to meltand form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat,an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a hori-- zontalplane, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation alongsaid conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successiveout sections of said flattened tubular material to said gripper frameswith an end margin of each section extending above the upper edges ofthe gripper frames, reciprocable heat sealing jaws adjacent said webfeeding and cutting means for successively engaging outer portions ofthe end margins extending above said frames and for forming relativelynarrow flat heat sealed seams therein, radiant heating means supportedabove said conveyor, said radiant heating means being movable into closeproximity to the path of movement of said conveyor and being operativeon the fiat sealed ends of said sections of tubular material for asufficient length of time to melt the material above the upper edge ofthe gripper frames and form the same into bead seals, and means todeliver the bead sealed sections from said gripper frames.

14. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to meltand form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat,an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontalplane, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation alongsaid conveyor, said gripper frames having relatively movable jawmembers, web feeding and cutting mechanism arranged to feed cut sectionsof said fiattened tubular material between said gripper jaw members,pivotally connected heat sealing jaws for engaging portions of the cutsections of material projecting above said frames to form therein arelatively narrow fiat heat sealed seam and elongate radiant heatingmeans supported above said conveyor and movable into close proximity tothe path of movement of said conveyor to form the fiat heat sealed seamsinto bead seals, said radiant heating means being mounted on acounter-weighted frame for movement into and out of sealing relationwith said conveyor.

15. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to meltand form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat,an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontalplane, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation alongsaid conveyor, said gripper frames comprising a base member and amovable jaw member, said base member being secured in depending relationto the outer periphery of the conveyor, said movable jaw member beingpivoted at its lower end to the lower end of said base member and springmeans urging the upper end of said jaw member toward the upper end ofsaid base member, cam means along said conveyor cooperating with saidjaw member to open the same, web feeding and cutting means arranged tofeed successive out sections of said flattened tubular material betweenthe base members and the jaw members of said gripper frames when thelatter are in open position, heat sealing jaws operative adjacent saidweb feeding and cutting means for forming a relatively narrow flat heatsealed seam on the ends of the cut sections and radiant heating meansmovable into close proximit to the path of movement of said conveyor toform the flat heat sealed into bead seals.

16. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material, an endless conveyor mounted for intermittentmovement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of frames having pivotallyconnected gripper jaws mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor,and web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive cutsections of said flattened tubular material to said frames, said webfeeding and cutting means comprising intermittently operated web feedingrolls, a reciprocating feed plate for positioning the leading end of theweb between said gripper jaws and reciprocating cutting elementsadjacent said feeding rolls and operating in timed relation to themovement of the web and the conveyor.

17. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlattened tubular material, an endless conveyor mounted for intermittentmovement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of frames having pivotedgripper jaws thereon mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, webfeeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive out sections ofsaid flattened tubular material to saidgripper jaws, said web feedingand cutting means comprising feed rollers, a movable guide plate beneaththe feed rollers for directing the leading end of the material betweenthe gripper jaws, a cutting bar on said guide plate, a cooperatingmovably mounted cutting bar opposite said guide plate and means foroperating said feed rollers, said cutting bars and said gripper jaws, intimed relation, to grip the cut sections of material between said bars.

18. A method of fabricating a bag from a continuous tube of relativelythin, flexible heat sealable material which material is characterized byits ability to melt and form a bead thereon when an edge of the materialis heated, said method comprising clamping a section of a flattened tubeof the material along a line spaced inwardly of an end thereof, forminga fiat heat sealed seam in said end of the material which flat seamextends from the end edge of the material to a line spaced outwardly ofsaid clamping line and thereafter melting all of the material extendingoutwardly of said clamping line and forming thereon a bead seal.

19. A method of forming a seal on the end of a section of flattenedpolyethylene tubing which comprises engaging the section of tubingbetween clamping and cooling members having the outer edges thereofspaced a predetermined distance from the end of said section, placing afiat heat sealed scam in the end of said section which extends from theend marginal edge and terminates short of the clamping and coolingmembers, and thereafter melting the end material back to the clampingand cooling members and forming thereon a bead seal.

20. A method of fabricating a bag from a continuous tube of relativelythin, flexible heat seal- 17 able material which material ischaracterized by its ability to melt and form a bead thereon when anedge of the material is heated, said method comprising clamping asection of a flattened tube of the material between clamping and coolingmembers having the outer edges thereof spaced a predetermined distancefrom the end of said section, placing a fiat heat sealed seam in the endof said section which extends from the end marginal edge and terminatesshort of the clamping and cooling members, and thereafter melting theend material back a sufficient distance toward the clamping and coolingmembers to form thereon a bead seal.

21. In a. machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length offlat tubular material which is characterized by its ability to melt andform into a bead when an end thereof is subjected to radiant heat, anendless chain conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontalplane, a plurality of gripping frames spaced along said conveyor, saidgripping frames comprising a base member secured in depending relationon the outer periphery of said conveyor, a movable frame member pivotedat its lower end to the lower end of said base member, a spring at thepivotal connection between said frame members for normally holding theframe membars in gripping relation, web feeding and cutting meansarranged adjacent the path of said conveyor to feed successive cutsections of the flattened tubular material between the base mem-- herand the movable member of said gripping frame, cam means operative toopen and close said frame members against the action of said springmeans in timed relation to the operation of said web feeding and cuttingmeans, cooperating flat heat sealing jaws arranged adjacent said Webfeeding and cutting means and engageable with the projecting end of thecut sections of said flattened tubular material when said sections areengaged in clamping relation by said gripping frame members, cam meansfor operating the said heat sealing jaws whereby to form a relativelynarrow flat heat sealed seam on the ends of the cut sections, and aradiant heating element arranged along the path of said conveyor inclose proximity to the path of movement of the flat sealed ends of saidout sections to form the flat heat sealed seam thereon into bead seals.

Referenc s Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,459,234 McDowall Jan. 18, 1949 2,467,879 Billeb Apr. 19,1949 2,488,212 Lloyd Nov. 15, 1949 2,551,811 Mueller May 8, 1951

